By CESAR JOLITO III
The Bacolod City council has approved on third and final reading its persons with disabilities (PWDs) social pension reform ordinance, a measure aimed at strengthening and expanding financial assistance for PWDs, particularly those in vulnerable and disadvantaged situations.
The ordinance amends key provisions of City Ordinance No. 1010 in 2022.
The reform broadens the definition of PWDs and clearly outlines expanded qualifications for eligibility under the city’s Social Pension Program.
Distrito said the amended ordinance now expressly recognizes a wider range of disabilities, including orthopedic, visual, hearing, chronic illness, and deaf-mute conditions, as well as psychosocial disabilities such as autism, Down syndrome, and epilepsy.
Under the revised guidelines, qualified beneficiaries must either be registered voters of Bacolod or, if under voting age or physically unable to register, have resided in the city for at least one year.
Additional qualifications include being bedridden; suffering from severe health conditions such as cancer or other terminal illnesses; being unemployed with two or more dependents; living alone or with another PWD or senior citizen; or being a child with developmental disabilities.
The ordinance also covers individuals with total visual impairment, persons with severe physical disabilities such as the amputation of both legs or both hands, and those with chronic psychosocial conditions.
To ensure that assistance reaches those most in need, the measure sets an annual gross income cap of P180,000 for PWD beneficiaries.
If the PWD has no independent income, the combined annual income of parents, guardians or primary caregivers must not exceed the same threshold.
According to Councilor Cesar Distrito, the income cap is intended to prioritize support for the most economically vulnerable sectors of the PWD community, ensuring that limited city resources are allocated fairly and effectively.
“This reform strengthens our commitment to genuine inclusivity,” Distrito said.
“By refining the definition and expanding the qualifications, we ensure that more vulnerable persons with disabilities — especially those facing severe medical, economic and social challenges — can access the assistance provided by the city government,” he added.
Once implemented, the ordinance is expected to significantly widen access to social pension benefits and reinforce the city’s efforts toward inclusive and equitable social welfare programs./CJ, WDJ